Wisconsin article

When
As a Badger fan who does pay attention to Iowa ball (I lived in Iowa for a dozen years), I think in some ways you are off in your assessments. I still think Iowa plays down and dirty ball but it is on only one side of the ball. It's been the offense, its lack of creativity and explosiveness, that has found ways to get in the way of putting really good teams on the field.

I also wonder about its heart. I mean that in the day-in-day-out heart that it takes to win 10 games a year. A program has to go out every game with the do or die attitude and not thinking that the game's a shoe-in. That starts with the very first practice of the week. I could be wrong on this but it seems like Iowa comes out flat often and places a lot of pressure on its generally stout D.

To me, as a Badger fan, Iowa is scary because if ever you put two sides of the ball together your going to be very tough to beat. Unlike Nebraska which is a mess on both sides of the ball.
When Kirk thinks he has enough points (and to him that means a two touchdown lead) he doesn't even want the offense out there. No going for the kill, no wearing down a tired defense, no, no, no. He would rather have a soft base defense out there that in theory will chew up time forcing the other team to string first downs together and might, just might force a turnover. When it's works, he slays giants and looks like a genius (2008 Penn State, 2015 Michigan). When it doesn't work, teams hang around and occasionally tire out our defense and steal the game (2005 Northwestern, 2010 November collapse)

I'll be at Kinnick September 22nd for I hope is the most racous atmopshere in years. We haven't knocked off Wisconsin at home since Shonn Greene was in out backfield. That was a long time ago. It's time to even that up a little bit. Last time I saw Iowa play Wisconsin was the 2010 misery. But my misery had only begun. I still had to drive back to Wisconsin with a carload of delierous Badger fans and stop at a bar in Kieler full of Badger fans who had been drinking all day.
 
When

When Kirk thinks he has enough points (and to him that means a two touchdown lead) he doesn't even want the offense out there. No going for the kill, no wearing down a tired defense, no, no, no. He would rather have a soft base defense out there that in theory will chew up time forcing the other team to string first downs together and might, just might force a turnover. When it's works, he slays giants and looks like a genius (2008 Penn State, 2015 Michigan). When it doesn't work, teams hang around and occasionally tire out our defense and steal the game (2005 Northwestern, 2010 November collapse)

I'll be at Kinnick September 22nd for I hope is the most racous atmopshere in years. We haven't knocked off Wisconsin at home since Shonn Greene was in out backfield. That was a long time ago. It's time to even that up a little bit. Last time I saw Iowa play Wisconsin was the 2010 misery. But my misery had only begun. I still had to drive back to Wisconsin with a carload of delierous Badger fans and stop at a bar in Kieler full of Badger fans who had been drinking all day.

When you get to the bar in Kieler next time may I suggest a game of Russian roulette. Be sure to put a bullet in every chamber and make sure six guys go before you. :D
 
As a Badger fan who does pay attention to Iowa ball (I lived in Iowa for a dozen years), I think in some ways you are off in your assessments. I still think Iowa plays down and dirty ball but it is on only one side of the ball. It's been the offense, its lack of creativity and explosiveness, that has found ways to get in the way of putting really good teams on the field.

I also wonder about its heart. I mean that in the day-in-day-out heart that it takes to win 10 games a year. A program has to go out every game with the do or die attitude and not thinking that the game's a shoe-in. That starts with the very first practice of the week. I could be wrong on this but it seems like Iowa comes out flat often and places a lot of pressure on its generally stout D.

To me, as a Badger fan, Iowa is scary because if ever you put two sides of the ball together your going to be very tough to beat. Unlike Nebraska which is a mess on both sides of the ball.
Well this is the year Mudder Funker so get ready to get D*ck slapped. You said you lived in Iowa as well and still chose the Badgers!? You chose wrong enjoy the BF era you F*cktwad (some of this is serious some is not its for you to decide)
 
When you get to the bar in Kieler next time may I suggest a game of Russian roulette. Be sure to put a bullet in every chamber and make sure six guys go before you. :D
The worst of it may have been when my (then) twelve year old son told me that my team choked in the fourth quarter and I didn't have much of an argument in return.:p
 
As a Badger fan who does pay attention to Iowa ball (I lived in Iowa for a dozen years), I think in some ways you are off in your assessments. I still think Iowa plays down and dirty ball but it is on only one side of the ball. It's been the offense, its lack of creativity and explosiveness, that has found ways to get in the way of putting really good teams on the field.

I also wonder about its heart. I mean that in the day-in-day-out heart that it takes to win 10 games a year. A program has to go out every game with the do or die attitude and not thinking that the game's a shoe-in. That starts with the very first practice of the week. I could be wrong on this but it seems like Iowa comes out flat often and places a lot of pressure on its generally stout D.

To me, as a Badger fan, Iowa is scary because if ever you put two sides of the ball together your going to be very tough to beat. Unlike Nebraska which is a mess on both sides of the ball.

Badger, thanks for checking in. Love hearing other fans' point of view. I've never thought once about Iowa's heart. However I have obsessed about the offense. Nice to see that people on the outside see it too.

If I were a member of the media I would have asked Ferentz after the OSU win... "how uncomfortable were you having your team score so many points?"
 
As a Badger fan who does pay attention to Iowa ball (I lived in Iowa for a dozen years), I think in some ways you are off in your assessments. I still think Iowa plays down and dirty ball but it is on only one side of the ball. It's been the offense, its lack of creativity and explosiveness, that has found ways to get in the way of putting really good teams on the field.

I also wonder about its heart. I mean that in the day-in-day-out heart that it takes to win 10 games a year. A program has to go out every game with the do or die attitude and not thinking that the game's a shoe-in. That starts with the very first practice of the week. I could be wrong on this but it seems like Iowa comes out flat often and places a lot of pressure on its generally stout D.

To me, as a Badger fan, Iowa is scary because if ever you put two sides of the ball together your going to be very tough to beat. Unlike Nebraska which is a mess on both sides of the ball.

Good post. Largely hit the nails on the head. If Iowa could put together a remotely competent offensive attack and find the skill players to run it, they’d be dangerous.

As it is, the defense carries the team in most games.

The water tower overlooking Kinnick has the Tiger Hawk painted on it. At least we’ve got that going for us.
 
Every game they come out flat? OK dude.
Wisconsin's O tends to come out slow too. Chryst does a lot of probing in the first couple series. Sometimes he hits weaknesses quickly and other times it takes a while but he always has a OLine and running game to wear MOST D's out.

What I don't understand I guess, because Iowa usually puts good OL's on the field why Iowa's O doesn't have similar success. Chryst IS a very good O game strategist but I can't imagine it's just that.
 
Last edited:
Wisconsin's O tends to come out slow too. Chryst does a lot of probing in the first couple series. Sometimes he hits weaknesses quickly and other times it takes a while but he always has a OLine and running game to wear MOST D's out.

What I don't understand I guess, because Iowa usually puts good OL's on the field why Iowa's O doesn't have similar success. Chryst IS a very good O game strategist but I can't imagine it's just that.


I think Iowa having a good OL is a common misconception. Iowa rarely even finishes in the top 1/2 of the conference in yds running the ball. Some might say, I suppose that it is because the lack of a passing game to complement the run. Teams just load up the box and Iowa rarely makes them pay.
 

Latest posts

Top